In the parable of the wedding supper in Matthew 22, the King, representing God, prepares the feast and sends out the invitation. Yet those who are called must also be properly clothed. This lesson reminds us that the wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ being formed in us as we diligently respond to God’s calling.
Matthew 22: 1. And again Jesus answered and spoke to them in parables, saying, 2. “The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was a king, who made a wedding feast for his son, 3. And sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast; but they refused to come.4. Afterwards he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Say to those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatted beasts are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast.” 5. But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, and another to his business. 6. And the rest, after seizing his servants, insulted and killed them. 7. Now when the king heard it, he became angry; and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; 9. Therefore, go into the well-traveled highways, and invite all that you find to the wedding feast.’ 10. And after going out into the highways, those servants brought together everyone that they found, both good and evil; and the wedding feast was filled with guests. 11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not dressed in proper attire for the wedding feast; (A Faithful Version)
Have we accepted the invitation to the wedding feast, and are we preparing ourselves with the proper wedding attire? Peter gives us a helpful pattern for spiritual growth in 2 Peter 1:5–7: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love, and the love of God.
Peter’s list appears to show progression. Each quality builds upon the one before it, showing how God develops His character in those who answer His invitation.
Faith
Faith is the starting point in following God’s way. Without faith, there is no reason to continue any further, because faith gives us the reason to act. It is the foundation of the wedding garment because it moves us to believe God, trust His promises, and respond to His calling.
Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. 6. Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For it is mandatory for the one who comes to God to believe that He exists, He is everything that He defines Himself to be as revealed in the Word of God.and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (A Faithful Version)
Virtue
Virtue can be understood as moral excellence: a willingness to obey God rather than yield to the pulls of the flesh. After faith, we begin to recognize God’s will and put it into practice with diligence. Virtue is part of the wedding garment because it shows that faith is becoming visible in conduct.
Romans 2:13. (Because the hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (A Faithful Version)
Knowledge
Peter next adds knowledge. Knowledge is more than information; it is the growing understanding of God’s truth, His law, His purpose, and His way of life. Faith must be guided by knowledge so that zeal is directed by truth. In this way, knowledge helps us know what kind of garment God is forming in us.
Self-Control and Endurance
Self-control is disciplined restraint: the ability, through God’s help, to govern our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. Endurance is the stability to continue in God’s way over time. Together, these qualities show that we are not only learning the truth but also remaining faithful to it. They are part of the wedding garment because they reveal a life of overcoming.
Revelation 3:5. The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (A Faithful Version)
Godliness and Brotherly Love
Once God begins the work of internal conversion, the result should flow outward. Godliness is devotion toward God, and brotherly love is kindness and concern toward others. These qualities show that the wedding garment is not merely private belief, but a transformed life directed first toward God and then toward our fellow man.
Mark 12:30. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. (A Faithful Version)
Love
The goal of Peter’s list is love: the love of God being developed in us. If these qualities are growing in our lives, Peter says we will not be useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love completes the garment because it reflects the character of God Himself.
2 Peter 1:8. For if these things exist and abound in you, they will cause you to be neither lacking effort nor lacking fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (A Faithful Version)
The mention of fruit is important. The fruit of the Spirit is God’s gift, and it includes both love and self-control. These qualities cannot be fully produced by human nature alone. Thankfully, God supplies what we lack, and He continues to clothe His people with the character needed for the wedding supper.
So, the question remains personal and urgent: are we dressed for the wedding supper? If we are diligently adding these garments of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love, and love, then we are preparing for the feast to which God has called us.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron
Are We Dressed for the Wedding Supper – Ron Volk
August 20, 2026 by Shirley Gohner • Uncategorized 0 Comments
In the parable of the wedding supper in Matthew 22, the King, representing God, prepares the feast and sends out the invitation. Yet those who are called must also be properly clothed. This lesson reminds us that the wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ being formed in us as we diligently respond to God’s calling.
Matthew 22: 1. And again Jesus answered and spoke to them in parables, saying, 2. “The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was a king, who made a wedding feast for his son, 3. And sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast; but they refused to come.4. Afterwards he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Say to those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatted beasts are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast.” 5. But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, and another to his business. 6. And the rest, after seizing his servants, insulted and killed them. 7. Now when the king heard it, he became angry; and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; 9. Therefore, go into the well-traveled highways, and invite all that you find to the wedding feast.’ 10. And after going out into the highways, those servants brought together everyone that they found, both good and evil; and the wedding feast was filled with guests. 11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not dressed in proper attire for the wedding feast; (A Faithful Version)
Have we accepted the invitation to the wedding feast, and are we preparing ourselves with the proper wedding attire? Peter gives us a helpful pattern for spiritual growth in 2 Peter 1:5–7: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love, and the love of God.
Peter’s list appears to show progression. Each quality builds upon the one before it, showing how God develops His character in those who answer His invitation.
Faith
Faith is the starting point in following God’s way. Without faith, there is no reason to continue any further, because faith gives us the reason to act. It is the foundation of the wedding garment because it moves us to believe God, trust His promises, and respond to His calling.
Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. 6. Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For it is mandatory for the one who comes to God to believe that He exists, He is everything that He defines Himself to be as revealed in the Word of God.and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (A Faithful Version)
Virtue
Virtue can be understood as moral excellence: a willingness to obey God rather than yield to the pulls of the flesh. After faith, we begin to recognize God’s will and put it into practice with diligence. Virtue is part of the wedding garment because it shows that faith is becoming visible in conduct.
Romans 2:13. (Because the hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (A Faithful Version)
Knowledge
Peter next adds knowledge. Knowledge is more than information; it is the growing understanding of God’s truth, His law, His purpose, and His way of life. Faith must be guided by knowledge so that zeal is directed by truth. In this way, knowledge helps us know what kind of garment God is forming in us.
Self-Control and Endurance
Self-control is disciplined restraint: the ability, through God’s help, to govern our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. Endurance is the stability to continue in God’s way over time. Together, these qualities show that we are not only learning the truth but also remaining faithful to it. They are part of the wedding garment because they reveal a life of overcoming.
Revelation 3:5. The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (A Faithful Version)
Godliness and Brotherly Love
Once God begins the work of internal conversion, the result should flow outward. Godliness is devotion toward God, and brotherly love is kindness and concern toward others. These qualities show that the wedding garment is not merely private belief, but a transformed life directed first toward God and then toward our fellow man.
Mark 12:30. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. (A Faithful Version)
Love
The goal of Peter’s list is love: the love of God being developed in us. If these qualities are growing in our lives, Peter says we will not be useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love completes the garment because it reflects the character of God Himself.
2 Peter 1:8. For if these things exist and abound in you, they will cause you to be neither lacking effort nor lacking fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (A Faithful Version)
The mention of fruit is important. The fruit of the Spirit is God’s gift, and it includes both love and self-control. These qualities cannot be fully produced by human nature alone. Thankfully, God supplies what we lack, and He continues to clothe His people with the character needed for the wedding supper.
So, the question remains personal and urgent: are we dressed for the wedding supper? If we are diligently adding these garments of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love, and love, then we are preparing for the feast to which God has called us.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron